Electricity Meter Top Up Scam

Please see the below scam alert sent on behalf of our partners.
Please note- there has been no known incidents reported in Northamptonshire, but it is certainly something to be aware of.
________________________________________
‘DON’T BUY ELECTRICITY METER TOP-UPS AT DOORSTEP’, ENERGY COMPANIES AND CONSUMER WATCHDOG WARN CUSTOMERS
Organised criminals are found to be operating across UK selling illegal meter credit
Energy companies and Consumer Focus, the consumer watchdog, are warning that an estimated 85,000 households have been affected by a doorstep scam which seems to offer cheaper electricity meter top-ups but just ends up with consumers paying twice.
As the scale of widespread illegal sales of electricity top-up on the doorstep is revealed, energy companies are launching a national campaign, “Top up Safe”, urging electricity prepayment meter customers to buy top-up only through official channels.
The problem is affecting customers of all of the leading energy companies (British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE).
Companies have begun writing to and telephoning their electricity pre-payment meter customers to alert them. There is evidence of serious and organised criminal activity and they are urging customers not to buy credit for their meters on the doorstep.
Some customers are being offered £50 of electricity meter top-up for a cash payment of just £25. Energy companies detect when they have not received payment for electricity used. As the energy credit is illegal any customer buying top-up on the doorstep will end up paying twice, first to the criminal and then to their energy supplier.

Distraction Theft, Kislingbury

Distraction Theft
Friday 24th September
All residents within the Kislingbury area
Towcester Rural Safer Community Team

There has been an incident recently in Kislinbury where a foreign couple approached an elderly woman asking if she had just dropped a £20 note they’d found on the floor. Whilst the woman was looking through her purse to check, the man took her credit card from her bag and they both left.
The man and woman in question had been standing behind the elderly woman beforehand in a supermarket, whilst paying for her shopping on the card, entering her PIN number.

Please make sure to keep any debit/credit cards and PIN numbers safe and secure, ensuring that you are careful to hide your PIN number when using it in view of other people.

Safeguarding you, Your Home, and Your Vehicle

This is a message from the Northamptonshire Police Local Marketing Team. 

Northamptonshire Police are now running Operation Guardian which aims to significantly reduce burglary, robbery and vehicle crime across the county.
“Safeguarding you, your home and your vehicle“  

LEAVE IT ON SHOW …………………………………… EXPECT IT TO GO!
CHECK …. Always lock you car, and close all windows including thesunroof -even if you only leave it for a few minutes.
CHECK …. Remove all items from your vehicle when parked - even an old coat may be enough to tempt a thief. Don't forget your Sat Nav. cradle or suction pads, and always clean away the marks left  behind on the window.
CHECK …. Never leave keys in the ignition, not even at a garage when paying for fuel. Keep keys safe at all times whether you are out  or at home.

For more crime security advice please go to http://www.northants.police.uk/default.aspx?id=3124

If you have any information on who may be committing crime, please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Remember, if the is a crime in progress to dial 999.

Please forward this message to your friends, family and neighbours who are
the invaluable eyes and ears of the community.

TOGETHER, WE CAN TAKE ACTION TO STOP THE CRIMINALITY THAT RUINS LIVES.